December 12, 2015
CHENNAI – Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday urged the Centre to recommence production in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit-I, currently under maintenance. She also sought coordinated action from neighboring states to counter Maoists.
December 12, 2015
CHENNAI – Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday urged the Centre to recommence production in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit-I, currently under maintenance. She also sought coordinated action from neighboring states to counter Maoists.
The power plant began commercial operations on December 31 last year. It was shut down for maintenance in June this year. “The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is yet to clearly indicate when the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit-I will recommence production,” said Jayalalithaa in her speech, read out by Tamil Nadu finance minister O Panneerselvam, at the 26th Southern Zonal Council (SZC) meet, chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh at Vijayawada on Saturday.
“We request that the NPCIL be instructed to recommence production early to meet the Tamil Nadu grid demand,” she said. Tamil Nadu was allotted 563 MW out of the 1000 MW produced by Unit-I of the Kudankulam power plant.
The chief minister said that, “Kudankulam Unit-II is undergoing final stages of commissioning activities. We request the Centre to expedite commercial operation in Unit-II, so that another 563 MW of power can be added to the Tamil Nadu grid at the earliest.”
Referring to movement of Maoist cadres in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, she said Tamil Nadu has been taking “proactive steps to curb the menace that has been prevalent in the area since 2013.”
“Combing operations have been intensified and five Maoists have been arrested. Local police stations have been strengthened and forces have been augmented to meet the challenges,” said the CM.
Senior Maoist leader Rupesh alias Jogi, who headed the ‘Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee’ and four others were arrested in Coimbatore in May this year.
Courtesy: HT
